It's that time of year again. The leaves on the trees are changing colours then falling to the ground; pumpkin-flavoured everything is in stores; the smell of mulch and woodsmoke are in the evening air; and retail stores are flooding the aisles with Hallowe'en costumes galore! People aren't the only creatures gearing up for a…
Horsemanship Level 3: Saddlery As a Level 2 Horseman you were asked to be able to tack up independently with properly adjusted tack. For the most part this entails doing up the girth and throatlatch to the holes that show the most wear on your horse's saddle. If everything else is straight and in the…
A rational person may become violent for many reasons, but the general explanation is that they realize they cannot get what they want through verbal negotiation. Emotions play a big role in this evaluation of circumstances, so I'm not claiming that a calm and rational mind will clinically decide to attack after a cost-benefit analysis…
Fight scenes are undeniably complex and require a lot of rehearsal. Sword fights involve moving long metal objects at high speed toward another actor and demand sufficient time to ensure both partners are safe and accurate. How much time should a producer or stage manager set aside for these rehearsals? The FDC Standard A Fight…
It's been a busy summer, but at last we have time to offer Open Barn again. Come out to Red Colt this Sunday, 28 September and take advantage of the horsey version of Open Floor. Groom a horse, do some sworplay, bring a bow and shoot the haystack, or get a practice ride in between…
The more you learn of different fighting styles from around the world and through history, the more similarities become obvious. Bartitsu and other mixed martial arts function not only because one style will fill a gap that the other leaves, but because many of the core concepts are shared. Today, we’re looking at the important…
Our next round of Beginner's Courses are just around the corner! Celebrate the start of Fall by swinging swords and pulling punches. We offer three different courses which cover different avenues of Western Martial Arts: Fight Like Sherlock Holmes Bartitsu is a complex martial art with many interlocking skills. Our four-week Fight Like Sherlock Holmes course…
It can be tempting in your school or practice group to hide your martial weaknesses and keep a book of the holes in your partners’ defences. The more secrets under your belt, the easier it is to stay on top. But this is a limited view that keeps you from truly expanding your ability as…
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Quick question: what's your primary weapon? If you said longsword, rapier, sidesword... sorry, but in swordplay, your body is actually the most crucial part of your martial practice! It's what makes it possible to then train with or without other weapons. We oil our swords, but what about basic body maintenance? More effective training sessions…
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What a weekend! The weather gods, by means of abject apology for last year, granted us three days of perfect sunshine for Carosella 2014! Friday began to the strains of classical music as Erin Ensor of Danceability let us through Rider Conditioning (aka Ballet in the Barn) under the watchful eyes and peaceful breath of…
"Arte, Ardore, Onore" is the motto of Academie Duello, which simply means: skill, passion, honour. These are the three guiding principles of our school. To practice the art as authentically as possible; to pursue and feed our passions for a happier, more fulfilling life; and to honour our teachers, training partners, and opponents. Arte, Ardore,…
With Carosella 2014 less than two weeks away, it's time to answer some of those frequently asked questions. Q: How can I sign up for Carosella? A: You can register online here for full and one-day passes. To register for individual workshops contact the front desk at 604 568 9907. Regular entries close Monday September…
Hey everyone, it’s one week away from our performance at "Bard on the Beach: Fight Night”, Monday Sept 8, 7:30pm! It will be an amazing night of swords and words: readings and stories from Christopher Gaze and C. C. Humphreys, famous sword fights re-enacted from Shakespeare's plays, and behind the scenes explanations of the choreographic process.…